Turnbull delays action on live exports

Posted by Emily Dowswell16sc on June 29, 2018

The last week of Parliamentary sittings before the winter recess has come and gone and the Turnbull Government has again failed to bring on its own Bill to increase penalties and sanctions for non-compliant live exporters.

This Export Legislation Amendment (Live-Stock) Bill 2018 was described as “critical” by Minister David Littleproud in response to the cruelty on the Awassi Express shown on the 60 Minutes report almost three months ago.

This week in Parliament we saw David Littleproud admit he was scared to bring on the Bill because of voting intentions in the Parliament.

The only reason he is withholding the Bill is because he is concerned Government MPs may cross the floor to support Labor’s amendments.

I have made it very clear that if the amendments are rejected, Labor will still support the Bill.

It is reprehensible that Malcolm Turnbull and David Littleproud choose not to bring on the Bill for a vote before the Parliament rose for the six week break.

Malcolm Turnbull’s lack of meaningful action to provide certainty to our farmers, the live sheep export trade and to ignore the concerns of Australians and the will of the Parliament reflects that he is only concerned with his own political interest, rather than doing the right thing.